Insulated structure



April 18, 1961 R. w. LUEDERS INSULATED STRUCTURE Filed July 22, 1958 m mWE m w m E w R ATTORNEY INSULATED STRUCTURE Robert W. Lueders,Lancaster, Pa., assignor to Armstrong Cork Company, Lancaster, Pa., acorporatlon of Pennsylvania Filed July 22, 1958, Ser. No. 750,268

6 Claims. (Cl. 220-9) This invention relates to an insulated tank or thelike.

Insulated tanks are commonly used in the petroleum, chemical, and otherindustries. The tanks frequently are insulated to maintain thetemperature of the fluid in the tank above normal temperature and inother instances, such as liquefied butane storage, the tanks areinsulated to maintain the fluid, generally a gas, below normaltemperatures. In some services, the tanks are used in processing ofmaterials where periodic heating or cooling of the material in the tankis carried out. In many instances, the tanks are not housed within abuilding, and thus the insulated structure must be protected against theelements to avoid deterioration of the insulation.

Tanks generally, and large tanks particularly, are diflicult to insulateproperly, and much hand labor normally is required, resulting in highlabor costs for application and finishing of the insulation.

An object of the present invention is to provide a system for insulatingtanks which may be installed with a minimum of labor.

Another object of the invention is to provide an insulated tankstructure in which the insulation may be protected against water andwater vapor penetration thereinto. This is a particularly importantobject where the tanks are to be installed to maintain temperaturesbelow normal or below freezing; for, with such tanks, the problem ofwater and water vapor penetration into the insulation may seriouslyaffect the insulating efficiency of the material.

Where the contents of a tank are periodically heated or cooled, thetanks tend to expand upon heating and contract upon cooling; and thishas presented many problems in securing the insulation to the tank insuch fashion that it will not be damaged upon such expansion andcontraction of the tank wall to which the insulation material isapplied. Expensive and complicated expansion joint arrangements havebeen proposed and used in the industry.

Another object of the invention is to provide for the insulation of suchtanks, as mentioned above, with a simple free-standing orself-supporting insulation structure which will permit the tank tocontract and re-expand 'without in any manner damaging or seriouslyafiecting the insulating sheathing applied to the tank.

Other objects of the invention will be clear from the followingdescription of an embodiment of the invention which will be described inconjunction with the attached drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating an embodiment of theinvention in the form of an insulated storage tank of generallycylindrical configuration disposed in a vertical position;

Figure 2 is a detailed perspective view showing an insulation mountingsupport and attaching band on the curved wall of a tank;

. Figure 3 is a top plan view showing a portion of a tank, such as shownin Figure 1, prior to installation of the top insulation;

States Patent err Figure 4 is a front view, broken away, showing aportion of the insulated tank; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a panel of im sulation materialof the type shown in the structure of Figure 4.

The various views are shown to ditferent scales for clarity ofillustration.

The tank shown in Figure 1 may be assumed to be made of metal and to beabout 30 in diameter and 60 high and provided with a domed top. It ispointed out that the invention is not limited to tanks of any particularsize or construction. Most tanks are cylindrical in shape and verticallydisposed. Some tanks, however, are of O shape, and some tanks aredisposed in a horizontal or inclined position. The present invention isapplicable to all such tank constructions although the embodiment chosenfor illustration is a cylindrical tank which is disposed with its axisin a generally vertical position.

The wall 2 of the tank to be insulated, as shown in Figure 2, hasmounted thereon a plurality of nonconducting supports 3, one of which isshown in Figure 2. A number of the supports are shown in Figure 3. Thesupports 3 preferably are formed of molded fiber glass reinforcedpolyester resin or other molding resin composition, such asphenol-formaldehyde resin; They also may be formed of extruded filledthermoplastic synthetic resin compositions, such as polyethylene,polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, or other nonmetallic material which isa poor thermal conductor, that is, essentially nonconducting.

The supports 3 preferably are mounted generally parallel to the axis ofthe tank, vertically of the tank as shown in Figure 1. The supports areof generally I shape in section and include an inner flange 4, an outerflange 5, and a connecting web 6. A typical support for use in theerection of insulation panels 6 long x 2' wide and 2" thick may haveflanges 4 and 5 about 2." wide and about 0.035" thick and a connectingweb about 1" deep and about 0.055" fiber glass reinforced polyesterresin.

The web 6 is provided with spaced slots 7 disposed adjacent to theflange 4. The slots are dimensioned to pass a connecting band 8therethrough. The band may be of galvanized iron about 1" wide and about0.020" gauge. In a typical installation, the slots 7 will be provided inthe web, spaced on 12" centers.

The supports 3 are spaced circumferentially around the tank on centerswhich will permit insulating panels 9 to be fitted in between adjacentpairs of supports 3, as shown in Figure 3, with the insulation material10 being kerfed, as indicated at 11 in Figure 5, on the two transverseedges thereof to receive the outer flanges 5 of adjacent insulationsupports 3. For example, with insulation panels of the size mentionedabove, the supports 3 will be spaced circumferentially about 72" apartto receive the insulation panels on edge therebetween. In the event thecircumference of the tank is not a multiple of the length of theinsulation panels 9, there may be one section which will requireinsulation panels of shorter length which may be cut, kerfed, and fittedon the job.

The supports 3 are held in proper position on the tank wall 2 by drawingup the bands 8 and clamping the overlapped ends in fixed position byclamping members 12, as shown in Figure 2. A metal band tensioning andclamping device, such as used-in the packaging industry, may be providedfor this purpose. These bands when drawn up tightly hold the supports 3in good close engagement with the wall 2 of the tank.

Where the insulation panel 9 is about 2" thick, as in the above example,and the depth of the web 6 measured I thick when made of .iiisu at t fhsd'i n si a -Q hek r h wil e a upon the size of the I-shaped supportused. Preferably, the kerf 11 will be so arranged that the insulationmater a w ll fit. s ly prims a sl gh c ss o w the' flariges 4 and 5 andth us yvill be positioned closely ladjaeenttothewallz of the tank. T hesaw kerf maybe Esp formed fthafwhen; adjacent panels 9 j are installed,the

3 edges of adjacent panels of insulationwill lie in abutting 'th-a rigidprotective layer ,14'which may be a sheet of jnplasticized vinyl resinabout 0.030? thick. The facing layer preferably is adhered throughout tothe faceof the body 10 of insulation.

Qisjprovided whichpro ects beyond an edgeof the body i10 of insulation.The facing layer 14 servesas a water vaporijbarrier and also as aprotective and decorative e r n V In I he erection of the insulation,the supports 3 are Iprope'rly'positioned and banded into place. WorkrnenIthen'insert the insulation panels in position between adjacent pairs ofsupports 3. The panels may be inserted by f'placingo'ne24. transverseedge of a panel into position '"with' the kerf 11 receiving anouterfiange 5 of one of tne snp ons 3 and the portion 13 below the kerfdisposed in the opening defined by the flanges 4 and 5 of the sup er: 3.The panel is then fiexed alongits 72" length in'an'ou'tward direction,and the opposite 2 4" transverse T'ed'g'e of the panel is inserted overthe flange 5' on the nextadjacent support 3. The panel is then permittedto snap i'nto .position with the fiange 5 being received 7 within thekerf 11. The natural resiliency of the insulation n'iaterialfrom whichthe body 10 of'thepanel-is f nade. will cau'se the'panel to tend toassume a flat condition. The portions13 lying below the flanges 5 of theadjacent supports 3 willbe yieldinglyor'resiliently urged j'ijfito,engagement with the supports. The natural resiliency jfof thefacinglayer 14Lm ay aid in imparting the desired snap action. e d 7 h Wherethe panel includes a protective facing 14, as in Figure 5, the flanges15 are carefully lapped over the previously applied panel, asshown'in'Figure 4. If the facinglayer is'to serve as a' vapor barrier,it may be desir- Anextending fiapor flange 15 no such finishing orprotecting coverings may be needed,

but generally a covering is used.

In some instances, sheets of metal, fiber glass reinforced polyesterresin, or other facing materials may be fastened mechanically oradhesively to the face of the insulation material after completionoftheerection. Suitable overlapping of the joints may -be e liect'edlPreferably, however, the panels-areprefabricated as' shown inFigure 5,and the joint between adjacent panels, overlying the supports 3,"isfilled'with caulking compound lfi which-serves to seal the joint betweenadjacent panels. Where 'the edges of the panels 9 are cut back aspreviously mentioned, a head of caulking composition may'be disposedover the abutting joint to provide a water'and vapor seal.

The invention has been-shown in Figures 1-4 as embodied in a verticallydisposed tank. The invention is also quite useful with horizontallydisposed tanks; for by disposing the supports within kerfed openingsprovided in the insulation; as shown in Figure 3, there is'a singlejoint between adjacentpanels which may be readily sealed againstmoisture or moisture vapor penetration into the insulation. Thestructure will readily shed waterand may be directly exposed tothe-elements.

"able to have the 'flanges 15 adhesively sealed in position *to form avaporproof joint. a

When the topmost panel has been installed, anyportion lwhich may projectabove the top of the tank is trimmed "tiff; When all'ofthe'panels havebeen installed against "the side wall, the top' of the tank is coveredwith insula- 'tion in the conventional manner, usually by' adhesivelybonding insulation panels directly to the top wallof the tank. The topof the tank is then finished by application of a 'vaporproofing andweatherproofing covering, if neciessary. Generally, a plastic coating isapplied; or where the tankis for outside service, a membrane reinforced"asphalt mastic may be used, for example. A metal or "otherflashing maybe provided at the joint where the top "and side walls meet. 7 n

Figure; 1 shows a completed'ta'nk'without any finishing or protectinglayers .or'coverings. While itis preferred toi apply the facing to theinsulation panels prior to installation, it is obvious that the facingmay be-applied sub- Tsequent'toinstallation of the insulation panels. Aplastic protective and/or decorative coating may bedesired, fo'rfexample; and this preferablywill beapplied as a finishing'tstepafter'the insulation'has-been positioned. For some services; as intheinterior of chemical pgo e'ssi ep aqta i The type of insulationmaterial used is not critical. ,is preferred to use a semirigid butresilient insulation as polystyrene resin heads, corkboard, and thelike. Any

It such thermal insulation which hasadequate strength and otherstructural; characteristics to permit kerfing and to with- 30 stand theforces developed in the insulation in :the snap in iristallationand" therequired resiliency causing it to tend to assume a flat condition, whichlatter. properly may be supplemented by use of a stiff but resilient"facing layer, may be used.

Itwill be clear from the foregoing that the insulation maybeconveniently applied with a low labor cost, and a 'sealedinsulationlayer will beprovided lit the joints are sealed and a protective facingis applied -where necessary. It-wil1 also be clear that'the insulationwhich is supported practically entirely by the supports? will-befree-standing and the tank may contract'and re-expand 'v'vithoufsubjecting the insulation to objectionable stresses.

I claim: V 1. Athermally insulated structure having a convexly "curvedwall surface, insulation for said convexly curved wansntrace comprisinga plurality of edge abutting normally flat rectangular panels ofsernirigid and resilient insulation material enclosing said curved wallsurface,

said panls being disposed in curved, sprung condition their outer faces'in tension between pairs of. noncondueting I-shaped supports. attachedto said structure by bands which encircle said curved wall surface, saidsupports including oppositely projecting inner flanges clamped againstsaid curved surface by said bands-and oppositely directed outer flangesdisposedoutwardly of said curved wall surface, adjacent pairs of theouter flanges being received within kerfs provided in oppositetransverse edges of said insulation material and holding saidpanels insaid curved and tensioned condition.

'2; A'therma'lly insulated'structure inaccordance with 'clairnl in whichthe inner portions of said body of insulation below said kerfs are.recessed to receive the webs of said adjacent. pairs -of-=I-shapedsupports and in which adjacent edges of said panels disposed over saidsupports lie in substantially. abutting relationship.

'3. A thermally insulatedstructureinaccordance with claim .1 in whichsaid panels include a rigid flexible facing layer joined to the body ofinsulation material.

"4. 'A'thermally insulated structure inaccordance with claim "3 inwhichsaid facing layer is adhesively bonded to the outer face'of saiclbody ofinsulation.

. 5., A thermally insulated structure inaccordance with claim 1 in whichthe joint betweenabutting insulation panels is sealed with aplasticcomposition.

"6. TAther'rnally insulatedstructure in accordance with salami lull-i1!ch thewall surface'is substantially cylindrical and is disposed with itsaxis substantially vertical and in which said panels include a body ofinsulation material and a rigid flexible facing layer bonded to the bodyof insulation material and in which said facing layer includes a flangewhich projects beyond one substantially horizontally disposedlongitudinal edge of said body of insulation material and overlies theopposite longitudinal edge of the next adjacent lower panel ReferencesCited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Scott July 3,1928 Hufi Nov. 15, 1932 Scott Nov. 21, 1939 Collins July 6, 1943 De ReusJan. 17, 1956 Plunkett Apr. 10, 1956

